Floor Exercise Propels Huskers Past ISU on Senior Night

Lincoln, Neb. - Janelle Giblin captured two event titles and won the all-around crown in the No. 6 Nebraska women's gymnastics team come-from-behind victory over the Iowa State Cyclones on Senior Night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday. Competing in front of 1,559 fans, the Huskers used a stellar performance on bars and floor to pull out the 196.175-195.700 victory.

The Huskers finished the regular season with a 12-2 overall record and went a perfect 3-0 in Big Ten competition, while Iowa State finished its regular season at 5-7.

"We vaulted well, for the most part," Head Coach Dan Kendig said after the meet. "Bars were very good. I've been trying to 49.45 all year and today we were very close. We could have packed it in and went home after beam, but we didn't. We went to floor, competed five gymnasts and did five great routines."

Giblin was brilliant from the get-go, tying a career high on vault with a 9.95 and posting the same score on bars to capture both event titles. The San Ramon, Calif., native posted another career mark on floor with a 9.875 to help her reach her career best 39.525 in the all-around. Nebraska has now had five separate gymnasts win an all-around title this season. True freshman Jessie DeZiel won her sixth floor title of the season by posting a 9.90 on the event.

"I've been calling her a rock star for a while now," Kendig said about Giblin. "She has been on fire. She looks amazing and she is confident. She is confident in her landings and her handstands on bars. It's automatic. She had a great day."

After a shaky performance on the beam where NU recorded two falls, the Huskers trailed ISU 146.875-147.200 heading into the final rotation on floor. Jamie Schleppenbach began the comeback for NU by posting a 9.825 and was followed by freshman Jennifer Lauer, who also posted a 9.825, which was a career high. After Giblin's 9.875 performance, DeZiel and senior Lora Evenstad posted 9.90 and 9.875, respectively, to close the event and clinch the victory.

The Huskers led after the first rotation where they posted a 49.30 on vault and were led by Giblin, who tied her career high with a 9.95 in the fourth spot. Following Giblin, Schleppenbach and DeZiel finished the event with a 9.825 and 9.925, respectively. True freshman Jennifer Lauer put up a 9.75, while Wong scored a 9.85 in the third spot to round out the Huskers on vault.

Giblin carried the momentum she gained on vault by posting another career high on bars, scoring her second 9.95 of the night in the Huskers' third routine. Giblin helped NU post a season-high 49.45, which is tied for the 10th highest score in school history. Giblin was helped by two other Huskers who tied their career-highs in Emily Wong and Lora Evenstad. Wong led the event off with a 9.90, while Evenstad posted a 9.925. Schleppenbach and DeZiel scored a 9.80 and 9.875, respectively.

With a 98.75-98.125 lead heading into NU's third rotation, the Huskers struggled on the beam, scoring a 48.125. Lauer, Giblin and DeZiel all posted 9.75s, while Wong led the Huskers with a 9.80.

Evenstad, who was competing in her last home competition for NU, posted a 38.525 in the all-around. Also competing in her last home meet was Katelyn Busacker, who scored a 9.625 on bars and competed in an exhibition on the beam.

The Huskers return to action next Saturday, March 24, when they head to their first conference championships as a member of the Big Ten. The conference meet will take place in Iowa City, Iowa, and will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network. The Huskers will either participate in the 1 or 6 p.m. session.